Starting device for engines.



W. I. TWOMBLY.

STARTING DEVICE FOR ENGINES.

APPLICATIQN FILED NOV-3.1913.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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W. I. TWOMBLY.

STARTING DEVICE FOR ENGINES APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3. 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- LQQQ572. Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

(/ VLMI/ ILLARD rwm W m W (35 11 (lbw 1,1401% a? ireman stares WILLARD IRVING TWOMBLY, OF NEW YdkK lt'. '51, ASiSIGNOR '10 TZVOMBIIY CAR CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, 5., A CORPORATION OFNE'W' YORK.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

STARTING DEVICE FOR ENGINES.

Patented Mini. 2721, 1191?.

Application filed liovemher 3, 1813. Serial No. 798,825.

Starting Devices for Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices to start 1:) engines, especially of the internal combustion'type, in motion, and relates particularlyto manually operable engine starting devices, and it is the object of the invention toprovide a device of this character which 15 is simple and cheap in construction, readily applicable to all engines, and eiiicient in operation.

In carrying out the invention I provide a I rotatable member, which may be in the form 20, 'ofa wheel or wheel segment, supported 00- axially with the power shaft of the engine ornu'pon said shaft, said member having means connected thereto to manually impart rotative movement thereto in one direction, means cooperating with said member normally maintaining it in a predetermined position of rest relative to the engine shaft and to return said member to initial position after motion has been imparted thereto by the manually operable means. A clutch between said rotatable member and the engine shaft is automatically thrown into operative engagement when motion is imparted to the rotatable member by the manually 85 operable means, and is automatically disconnected when said member comes to rest and the engine is in motion and returned to initial position, means being also provided to maintain the clutch in inoperative posi- 0 tion when the rotatable member is in normal position of rest.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, ofan embodiment of my invention applied to the power shaft of an engine. 4

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially through the center of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view to illustrate the means to normally maintain the disconnected from the engine.

Fig. 4; is a side elevation illustrating a modified embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 5 is an end elevation, partly in section, looking at the right of Fig. i.

. sleeve 8 thus device Similar characters of reference-designate like parts throughout the different views of the drawings. I in Figs-1 to 8 of the drawings, I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention appliedto the power shaft 6 of an engine (designated in a general way by E) consisting of a rotatable member 7 in the form of a wheel having a peripheral groove mounted coaxially with the engine shaft 6. In the present instance this wheel is rotatably mounted'on a fixed sleeve 8 in which is journaled a shaft 9 coaxial with the engine shaft 6 and connected to said shaft by op positely extending arms 10 fixed to the shaft 9, the ends of the arms being bifurcated, as at 11, and in which slidably engage a pair of pins 12 projecting from the face of a fly wheel 13 fixed to the engine shaft By this construction while the shaft 9 is perma nently connected to the engine shaftit is permitted to have axial movement, but as this does not constitute an essential feature of the present invention a detailed description of the purpose of this sliding movement of the shaft 9 is not deemed necessary. It will therefore be obvious that the shaft 9 is practically a continuation of the engine shaft and that the wheel 7 ay be supported directly upon the engine s pft. This wheel 7 is confined between the hub of the arms .10 and a washer and lock-nut l l on the preventingaxial movement of the wheel.

The wheel 7 is normally maintained in a predetermined position of rest relative to the engine shaft by a spring 15, one end of which spring is connected to a pin 16 fixed in the wheel. 7 and the other end secured in a fixed position, as at 17, which may be a fined part of the framework of a. motor vehicle for which purpose the-present device is particularly adapted.

"lhe wheel 7 is normally disconnected from the en ine and is adapted to be connected thereto when rotative motion is imparted to the wheel inone direction by an overriding clutch, consisting of a collar. or

jecting from the wheel 7 and; overhanging the collar having a block of hardened material 20 with a V-shaped groove inclined to the periphery of the collar 18 and in line with the groove therein, ball 21 engaging wheel 18 having an annular groovefixed to the hub of the arms-10, an arm or lug 19 prolit in one direction and consists of a band or cable C, preferably a wire cable, fixed at one end, as at 22, to the wheel 7 and adapted to engage in the wheel groove and encircle the wheel, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the other end of the cable being provided with a hand grip 22 which may be located adja' cent the seat of a motor vehicle when the device is utilized in connection with an engine for a motor vehicle. A guide, which may consist of a tubular member 23, is provided for said cable.

The device is normally maintained in the position indicated in Figs. 1 to 3, by the spring 15; that is. when the engine is at rest or running. Should the engine be stopped and it is desired to start the engine in motion a quick pull is given to the cable C which imparts rotative motion to the wheel 7 in the direction ofthe arrow (Fig. 1).

against the tension of the spring 15, this motion of the wheel causing the ball to ride down the inclined groove of the block 20 causing said ball to be wedged between the collar 18 and saidblock 20 connecting the Wheel 7 to the shaft of the engine and thereby simultaneously with the motion imparted to the wheel 7 motion will-also be imparted I v to the engine shaft 6. Should the engine be set in motion the further movement of the engine shaft will cause the ball to ride up the incline groove in the block 20 disconnecting the wheel 7 from the engine, and when the cable C is released the wheel will be returned to and maintained in initial position by the sprin 15. As the wheel 7 is returned to initia position an adjustable abutment 24 in the form of a set screw carried by a collar 25 will engage with and unseat the ball 21 causin the ball to engage in the curved portion 0 a spring 26 fixed to the arm 19, said spring also serving as an abutment for the ball to maintain it between the block and collar 18. This releasing of the ball prevents any tendency of the ball being wedged between the block and collar 18 and thereby causing the accidental rotation of the wheel 7 while the engine is in motion. In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated a modification in which the wheel 7 is mounted directly upon and is coupled directly to the engine shaft 6 through the fly wheel 13. In this construction the engine shaft is connected directly with a power transmission mechanism. In this construction the wheel is provided with an arm 7 having a portion 27 to overhang the fly wheel 13, the under side of said arm having a block 28 fixed thereto, said block having a V-shaped groove inclined to the periphery of the fly wheel and in line with an annular groove 13 in the periphery of the fly wheel, the ball 21 being wedged between said block and the fly wheel to couple the wheel 7 with the engine. The wheel is provided with the spring 15 to maintain it'in a predetermined position of rest and movement in the direction of the arrow is imparted thereto by the cable C the same as in Figs. 1 to 3. To unseat the ball and prevent the accidental coupling of the wheel with the engine an adjustable abutment is provided in the form of a set screw 29 carried by a fixed bracket 30.

Variations may be resorted to within the, serge of my invention.

aving thus described my invention, T

claim:

1..A starting device for engines, comprising in combination with the power shaft of the engine, of a. rotatable wheel supported coaxially with the engine shaft havingm. laterally projecting portion; a fixed" stop, a cable connected to and encircling said wheel to impart rotative movement thereto in one direction; means of interconnection between said wheel and potter shaft whereby the same may be readily coupled or disconnected; a spring to impart movement to the wheel reverse to the movement imparted thereto by the cable and to normally maintain said wheel in position with thelateral projection engaging with the fixed stop; and an overridin clutch to connect said wheel to the engine shaft when rotative movement is imparted thereto by the cable,

substantially as and;for the purpose specified.

:2. A starting device for engines, comprising in cooperation with the shaft of the engine, a readily detachable rotatable wheel supported coaxially with the engine shaft and having a reciprocating movement, manual means for rotating said wheel in one direction and a spring to retrieve said wheel in the reverse direction, an over-riding clutch connecting said wheel with the outer face of said flywheel, and a stationary stop to limit the reverse movement of said wheel to a. predetermined point.

3. A starting device for engines, comprising in combination with the power shaft of the engine, of a rotatable wheel supported coaxially with the engine shaft; manually engine shaft when rotative movement is imparted thereto by the'cable, comprising a collar having an annular groove connected to and rotatable with the engine shaft, a lug projecting from the wheel to overhang said collar having a L -shape groove inclined to the periphery of the collar and in line with the groove therein, a ball engaging in the space between said, Vshape groove and the annular collar, said V-shape portion of the lug adapted ,to bite upon the ball to wegde 1t between said lug and the annular collar when rotative movement is imparted to the wheel by the cable, a spring to maintain said ball in the space between the Wheel lug and annular collar, and an abutment to engage with and unseat the ball when the wheel is returned to initial position by the spring, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

a. A starting device for engines, comprising in combination with the power shaft of the engine, of a fiy wheel fixed thereto having an annular groove,a rotatable Wheel mounted coaxially with the power shaft normally maintained in a predetermined position of rest relative to said shaft and having a projecting portion overhanging the groove portion of the By wheel with a face inclined to the periphery of the fly wheel; manually operable means to rotate the Wheel a one vay locking device carried between the projecting portion of the rotatable Wheel and the groove of the fly wheel which is caused to be wedged between the groove of the fly wheel and the inclined face of the rejection of the rotatable Wheel when said atter wheel is rotated in one direction; and an abutment with which the projecting portion of the rotatable wheel engages when the engine havin the latter is in position of rest having means to engage with and unseat said one-way locking device, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5, A starting device for engines, comprising in combination with the power shaft of a fiy-wheel fixed thereto, of a shaft coaxially of and connected to the power shaft to rotate therewith; a Wheel loosely mounted. on said latter shaft and normally maintained in a predetermined position of rest; a cable connected to said wheel to impart rotative movement thereto in one direction; and an overriding clutch between said wheel and the fly-wheel thrown into operative engagement whenthe Wheel is ro- 1 tated by the cable to impart rotative movement thereto and couple it to the fly-Wheel and the engine shaft,'and stationary means to limit the movement of said wheel in one direction, and to release the clutch when the starting device is inoperative.

6. A starting device for an engine comprising with the engine, a fiy-wheel, detachable means adjacent the fiy-wheel includ ing a rotary reciprocating member, means for manually reciprocating said member in one direction and automatic means for retrieving said member in the reverse direc tion, and means on the face of said fly-wheel for one-Way clutch engagement between said reciprocating member and the fly-wheel, and stationary means to retain said clutch in unlocked position at the limit of the retrieved position.

WILLARD IRVING TWOMBLY.

Witnemes:

JOHN G. Snnnn'r, Lam E. Swan; 

